The government has denied that the pro-incineration advertisements in all major local dailies reveals its intention to proceed with the proposed multi-billion ringgit project in Broga, near Semenyih, without the necessary approval.

Local Government Department director-general Mohamad Saib said the ads are merely designed to educate the public on waste disposal problems and the evils of landfills.

"I've already given my assurances on this matter ... we will not go ahead with the project if the detailed environmental impact assessment (EIA) report is not approved by the Department of Environment (DOE)," he said when met at his office yesterday.

"The EIA report is still not out yet. Let's wait for that first. In the meantime, we want people to understand what the problems are and what is the necessary alternative."

However, he declined to divulge further details pertaining to the proposed 1,500-tonne incinerator that has stoked a major controversy among residents of Broga, Semenyih, Kajang and Beranang as well as local and international anti-incinerator campaigners.

Fate sealed?

Project opponents fear that the advertisement campaign had more or less sealed their fate.

Another fear is that such a blatant pro-incinerator campaign by the government may place undue pressure on Perunding Utama Sdn Bhd, the government-appointed environmental consultant, to submit a positive assessment.

Residents have vehemently opposed the project, citing health and environmental concerns. The project's funding source is also shrouded in secrecy.

Asked whether the naming of Broga in the advertisements as the proposed project site prior to the EIA approval is a pre-emptive move, Mohamad said it has nothing to do with the assessment.

"In our public education campaign, we need to mention the proposed location for the thermal plant but the DOE's evaluation of the EIA report will still prevail.

"The campaign is to show the people that the system works and that there is nothing to fear because the government will follow the necessary procedures in handling this matter," he added.

Ads are okay

When contacted yesterday, a DOE source told malaysiakini that the EIA report is expected to be submitted by Perunding Utama by the end of this month, the fourth postponement since May.

The source also said the advertisements did not breach any laws or regulations pertaining to the technical evaluation that the EIA would have to go through.

"As long as nothing is done on the ground, it is okay. But this is only part of PR exercise.

"The only thing is, the government is taking a risk by placing the ads and naming the proposed site because if the EIA is not approved, they would have to bear the responsibility," added the source.

Perunding Utama managing director Peter Ho, the company's only authorised person for official comments, has been unavailable since Monday while his office told malaysiakini to forward all queries to the ministry.

Produced by Lim Kok Wing Institute of Creative Technology for the Housing and Local Government ministry, the ad campaign which depicts the benefits of a modern thermal technology, will end soon after a two-week run.

A conservative estimate for the full-page black-and-white and colour ads in five major English- and Malay-language broadsheets and tabloids would be around RM3.5 million.

Confidential details

Contacted today, an official at the institute was only willing to say that the ad campaign was to run for two weeks. She refused to divulge further details, including the cost of producing the range of advertisements.

"Please refer to the Housing and Local Government Ministry for further details on the advertisements because we only created them based on the facts and information given by them.

"Information on costs and such are too confidential. As a business concern, we have to protect our own interest and that of our clients," she said.

Last week, the Consumers Association of Penang responded to the ad campaign by criticising the government for wasting taxpayers' money.

The residents are also working on a legal suit against the government, which had awarded the contract to a Tokyo-based engineering giant to design and build the world's largest plant to use gasification technology.